Super Cup 2018: Gift Raikhan - Even if we concede three goals, we will try to win

NEROCA FC have their task cut out against Bengaluru FC in the quarter-finals of the 2018 Super Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Friday.

Looking back at the come-from-behind victory against Kerala Blasters which they won 3-2, Gift Raikhan admitted his side got lucky in that encounter.

"We were very lucky in the last match. We were down by two goals but we came back with three goals. Our boys were giving their 100 percent with their heads held high. Tomorrow (Friday) will be a very challenging match against Bengaluru. They are a good side who have had good results in the ISL (Indian Super League). What we want is to keep fighting with our heads up because football is all about performance and giving your 100 percent," he said.

"I cannot promise that we will win or we will knock them out because my players are also humans. We are not Gods. The only thing I can promise is that we will work hard until the end. Even if we concede one goal or maybe three goals, because football is unpredictable, we will keep trying. If you give your 100 percent, anything can happen," Raikhan declared.

GFX Gift Raikhan Bengaluru FC NEROCA Super Cup 2018

Speaking of motivation, the former HAL left back tagged the encounter against Bengaluru FC as a huge opportunity.

"I am very motivated because I got this opportunity to prove myself in front of a big club. All my players can also change their lives with this match. So everybody knows this and we are all highly motivated. I am not worried about the result," he continued.

"The result will come after the whistle but this is a lifetime opportunity for young players like Pritam (Singh Ningthoujam) and (Ngasepam) Tondonba. They should grab this opportunity because it won't come back again in their life and maybe my life too.

"I know that Bengaluru are doing very good things (consistent) from the beginning. We have also been doing good from the beginning and that's why we are in the quarter-finals of the Super Cup."

On the 4 PM IST kick-off, Raikhan said, "We have trained here at 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock, 4 o'clock. So we have already acclimatised to the weather."